Folding carton

ABSTRACT

A gable top carton by the shape of its top closure provides a hand grip slot of adequate size and an improved engagement of top closure locking structure. The carton can be readily collapsed and erected.

United States Patent 1 1 Collie 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] FOLDING CARTON[75] Inventor: Stafford D. Collie, Glen Elly,, Ill.

[7 3] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla.

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 78,120

[52] U.S. Cl ..229/39 R, 229/17 G, 229/52 B [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/10[58] Field of Search ...229/52 B, 39 R, 17 G, 39 B [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,58l,974 1/l969 Freeman' ..l ..229 39 R 3,525,4668/1970 Robinson ..229/39 R Oman ..229/52 B Henry .4 ..229/39 R FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 487,996 6/l938 Great Britain ..229/52 B PrimaryExaminer.l0seph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. GarbeAttorney-Young and Quigg [57] ABSTRACT A gable top carton by the shapeof its top closure provides a hand grip slot of adequate size and animproved engagement of top closure locking structure. The carton can bereadily collapsed and erected.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FOLDING CARTON This invention relates to acarton. In another aspect, this invention relates to a collapsiblecarton. In still another aspect, this invention relates to-a carton madefrom an integral blank. This invention relates more particularly to acarton having a handle. In yet another aspect, this invention relatesmore particularly to a novel top closure locking structure and grippingstructure for a carton.

A folding carton for general purposes, such as a car ryout container forprepared food delivery should be easily assembled, oflight weightconstruction, and most importantly, convenient and safe to carry.Carrying containers having locking tabs and carrying slots have beendeficient in carrying convenience and safety because of a lack of easein engaging the top locking tab with its lock port, the correspondingease with which the locked tabs disengage from the lock ports atinopportune moments often being pushed apart by a hand inserted in thegrip slot, and the further inconvenience of the grip slots caused by thecramped size of the slots.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a.

folding carton which has an integral locking structure for the topclosure of improved facility and security in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding carton with aneasily accessible integral handle.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a foldingcarton that can be assembled, collapsed, shipped flat and then easilyerected at the point of use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a folding cartonwith a distinctive shape.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and claims ofthis invention.

The invention comprises a gable-top foursided container formed of anintegral blank. The container has opposing top closure panels oftrapezoid shape which are surmounted by panels containing a grip slotand, on either end, locking tabs whichengage locking ports which arelocated in the extended adjacent side panels. In the preferredembodiment of this invention the trapezoidal top closures cause theextended side walls of the carton to flex out around the point ofengagement of the closure tabs and the closure locking port thusinsuring more secure engagement of the locking tabs in the ports. Thisshape also provides a wider space for the handgrip without interferencefrom the side walls. In a further embodiment the facility of theoperation of securing the lock tabs in the lock ports is enhanced by thecircular shape of the ports.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank sheet material from which the cartonis formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 partially assembledand in collapsed condition ready for shipment or storage;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the blank as shown in FIG. 2 during a stageof erection showing the bottom flaps in partial engagement with eachother;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an erected carton with the top closurecompleted.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the embodiment of my invention illustratedcomprises side walls and 11 and an end tab 12 by which joining of theside walls is completed. Each of the side panels are connected bylongitudinal scored hinge lines 13. Two opposing side panels 11 aregenerally rectangular, and the other two opposing side panels 10 areextended on their upper extremity into a side panel lock flap 14. Thislock flap may be of any size and shape sufficient to accommodate thecutout lock port, 15, and to assure that the lock tabs 19 can engage thelock ports. The size is usually determined by the length necessary toreach the top edge of the grip panels 18 when the carton is erected andthe base width is equal to the width of the side panel. The shape of thelock flap can be rectangular, trapezoidal, arcuate, triangular or thelike. In the preferred embodiment the side panel lock flap 14 istriangular in shape to conform roughly to the gabled top of the carton:The lock ports can be of any shape, rectangular, oval, circular, and aresized to be slightly smaller than the lobes of the lock tabs so that thelobes securely lock the closed carton. The preferred shape for the portsis circular.

The side panel and extended lock flap section may optionally contain ascore line 30 extending from the lock port 15 down the center of theside panel as an aid in bending the lock flap to conform to the roofline of the container. Attached to the upper extremity of theunextended, rectangular opposed side panels 11 is a trapezoidaltopclosure panel 16. The top closure panel transverse hinge score line17 that joins the top closure panel to the side panel is the shorterparallel side of the trapezoid shaped top closure panels. It is theshape of this closure panel that causes the flexing outward of theextended side walls giving this carton its unique shape and improvedqualities.

Attached to the longer parallel side of the top closure panel 16 is agrip panel 18 which contains on its two lateral edges lobed lock tabs 19which must be spaced to engage lock ports 15 of the extended side panels14. The grip panel also contains a cutout grip slot 20. At the junctureof the grip panel-and the top closure panel is a transverse grip panelhinge score line 21.

Attached to the bottom of the extended side panels 10 are bottom closurepanels 22 which have inclined edges 23 extending from the transversebottom panel hinge score line 24. One of the extended side panels has aclosure notch 30 at the transverse hinge line for use in assembling thecarton.

The rectangular side panels 11 have appended at their bottom edge afolding bottom panel 25 joined to the side panel at the folding bottompanel hinge score line 26. A hinged attaching flap 27 is joined to thefolding bottom panel 25 along a hinged score line 28 which correspondsto the inclined edge 23 of the adjacent bottom closure panels 22. Thefolding bottom panel 25 is lobed at the end of the score line by whichit is attached to the hinged attaching flap 27, to form a bottom panellock notch 29 which locks the bottom of the erected carton into place.

Referring now to FIG. 2 in which a partially erected carton is shown.Here the collapsed carton shows one face comprised of an extended sidewall panel 10, a rectangular side wall panel 11, a top closure panel 16,and a grip panel 18. In the figure the wall of the rectangular sidepanel 11 has been cut away to show the unfolded bottom panels of thecollapsed. carton. The hinged attaching flap 27 of the folding bottompanel 25 has been secured to the bottom side of the adjacent bottomclosure panel 22 so that there is a 360 fold in the folding bottom panelalong the hinged score line 28 of the hinged attaching flap.

As is illustrated by FIG. 3, as the container side walls are opened topartially erect the carton, the hinged attaching flap 27 moves in thesame plane as the adjacent bottom closure panel 22, eventuallyto lieflat in a plane with the folding bottom panel 25 when the erection ofthe carton is completed. When the carton has been erected the bottompanel'lock notches 29 which are moving toward each other, in thisillustration, willmeet and lock.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing which is an illustration of thecompletely assembled, erected and closed-carton of this invention. Hereis shown the flexing of the extended side panels as the lock port in theside panel lock flap 14 is engaged with a lock tabs 19 on the grippanels 18 to close the top of the carton. The outward flexing increasesthe pressure of the lock port 15 against the lock tabs 19 particularlyas the weight of the object carried in the carton pushes down on thebottom of the carton and force is exerted upward on the grip slot 20 asthe carton is carried. This figure also illustrates that the outwardflexing of the extended side panels allows the convenience of a largergrip slot 20 in the grip panel 18, and increases the security of thelocking device because the side panel lock flap 14 slants away from thegrip slot 20 making it less likely that a hand inserted in the grip slotwill tend to push the side panel lock flaps outwardly and disengage thelock tabs from the lock port.

The material of construction for the carton of this invention can be anymaterial that will form into a flexible sheet from which the blank canbe made. Particularly suitable are thermoplastics, paper products, andlaminates of paper products and thermoplastics or microcrystallinewaxes. At present the preferred material of construction is polyethylenecoated paperboard.

' Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure, the drawing and the appended claims of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A gable-top four-sided container formed of an integral blankcomprising four hingedly connected side panels wherein each of twoopposed side panels are extended above the hinged connectionsaccommodating within'the side panel extension a lock tab opening andwherein each of the unextended opposed side panels have hingedlyconnected thereto the shorter of the parallel sides of a trapezoidal topclosure panel said trapezoidal top closure panel forming a gable withthe opposing top closure panel; a grip panel hingedly attached to thelonger parallel side of said top closure panel, said grip panelcontaining a grip slot and, at opposing lateral edges, a lobed lock tabwhich cooperates with a lock tab opening in the adjacent extended sidepanel to fasten the container top panels forming an outward flexinggable; a bottom panel hingedly connected to each side panel interlockingwith the other bottom panels forming a weight supporting bottom; and anend tab hingedly attached to one of the side panels and extending thelongitudinal length of said side panel with said end tab attached toanother side panel, aligned with the side panel to form a four-sidedcontainer.

2. The gable-top container of claim 1 wherein said extended length ofsaid opposed side panels is of triangular shape with the base of thetriangle corresponding to the width of the side panel.

3. The gabled-top container of claim 2 wherein the lock tab opening iscircular.

4. The gable-top container of claim 1 wherein said container is madecollapsible by each of a pair of opposed bottom panels having inclinededges provided with hingedattaching flaps, the attaching flaps beingsecured to the underside of the bottom panel, next adjacent to saidattaching flap whereby the bottom members are automatically swung from acollapsed to an erected position. I

5. The gable-top container of claim 4 wherein said bottom panels containan attaching flap having extending on the inclined edge a lobe whichforms a notch at its conjunction with an attaching flap whereby thebottom panels are locked in an erected position.

6. The gable top container of claim 1 wherein said extended side panelscontain a score line which extends from said lock tab opening to aposition between said hinged connections.

7. The gable-topped carton of claim 1 made of a material which can beformed into a flexible sheet which sheet can be cut and scored to form ablank adapted to be folded into a self supporting container.

8. A blank formed from a single sheet of material adapted to be foldedinto a self-supporting box comprising: I

a. a first side comprising a panelhaving a bottom panel attached to oneend along a transverse scored hinge line and at the other end anextension provided with a cutout portion centered on the longitudinalcenter line of the panel;

b. alsecond side comprising a panel attached to said first side panelalong a longitudinal scored hinged line, a top panel attached to one endof said second side panel along a transverse scored hinge line and abottom panel attached to the opposite end of said second side panelalong a transverse scored hinge line, said top panel comprising atrapezoidal section joined to the side panel along a transverse scoredhinge line which is the shorter parallel side of the trapezoid andjoined along the longer parallel side of the trapezoid by a transversescored hinge line to a section containing a cutout portion and havinglobed tabs on its two lateral edges said tabs extending outwardly of aline which is an extension of each of the nonparallel sides of thetrapezoidal section, said nonparallel sides of length sufficient topermit alignment of the lobed tab with the longitudinal center line ofthe adjacent side;

c. a third side which matches.(a),'attached to said second side panelalong a longitudinal scored hinge line;

. a fourth side which matches (b) attached to said third side panelalong a longitudinal scored hinge line; and

e. an end tab attached by a longitudinal scored hinge line along theedge length of a side (d) which is not attached to another side.

9. The blank of claim 8 wherein said first side and third side panelseach contain a score line extending from said cutout portion along thecenter line of the panel to a position sufficiently removed from said cutout portion to permit conformation of the side panel 5 extension to thelobed tabs of the top panel.

1. A gable-top four-sided container formed of an integral blankcomprising four hingedly connected side panels wherein each of twoopposed side panels are extended above the hinged connectionsaccommodating within the side panel extension a lock tab opening andwherein each of the unextended opposed side panels have hingedlyconnected thereto the shorter of the parallel sides of a trapezoidal topclosure panel said trapezoidal top closure panel forming a gable withthe opposing top closure panel; a grip panel hingedly attached to thelonger parallel side of said top closure panel, said grip panelcontaining a grip slot and, at opposing lateral edges, a lobed lock tabwhich cooperates with a lock tab opening in the adjacent extended sidepanel to fasten the container top panels forming an outward flexinggable; a bottom panel hingedly connected to each side panel interlockingwith the other bottom panels forming a weight supporting bottom; and anend tab hingedly attached to one of the side panels and extending thelongitudinal length of said side panel with said end tab attached toanother side panel, aligned with the side panel to form a four-sidedcontainer.
 2. The gable-top container of claim 1 wherein said extendedlength of said opposed side panels is of triangular shape with the baseof the triangle corresponding to the width of the side panel.
 3. Thegabled-top container of claim 2 wherein the lock tab opening iscircular.
 4. The gable-top container of claim 1 wherein said containeris made collapsible by each of a pair of opposed bottom panels havinginclined edges provided with hinged attaching flaps, the attaching flapsbeing secured to the underside of the bottom panel, next adjacent tosaid attaching flap whereby the bottom members are automatically swungfrom a collapsed to an erected position.
 5. The gable-top container ofclaim 4 wherein said bottom panels contain an attaching flap havingextending on the inclined edge a lobe which forms a notch at itsconjunction with an attaching flap whereby the bottom panels are lockedin an erected position.
 6. The gable top container of claiM 1 whereinsaid extended side panels contain a score line which extends from saidlock tab opening to a position between said hinged connections.
 7. Thegable-topped carton of claim 1 made of a material which can be formedinto a flexible sheet which sheet can be cut and scored to form a blankadapted to be folded into a self supporting container.
 8. A blank formedfrom a single sheet of material adapted to be folded into aself-supporting box comprising: a. a first side comprising a panelhaving a bottom panel attached to one end along a transverse scoredhinge line and at the other end an extension provided with a cutoutportion centered on the longitudinal center line of the panel; b. asecond side comprising a panel attached to said first side panel along alongitudinal scored hinged line, a top panel attached to one end of saidsecond side panel along a transverse scored hinge line and a bottompanel attached to the opposite end of said second side panel along atransverse scored hinge line, said top panel comprising a trapezoidalsection joined to the side panel along a transverse scored hinge linewhich is the shorter parallel side of the trapezoid and joined along thelonger parallel side of the trapezoid by a transverse scored hinge lineto a section containing a cutout portion and having lobed tabs on itstwo lateral edges said tabs extending outwardly of a line which is anextension of each of the nonparallel sides of the trapezoidal section,said nonparallel sides of length sufficient to permit alignment of thelobed tab with the longitudinal center line of the adjacent side; c. athird side which matches (a), attached to said second side panel along alongitudinal scored hinge line; d. a fourth side which matches (b)attached to said third side panel along a longitudinal scored hingeline; and e. an end tab attached by a longitudinal scored hinge linealong the edge length of a side (d) which is not attached to anotherside.
 9. The blank of claim 8 wherein said first side and third sidepanels each contain a score line extending from said cutout portionalong the center line of the panel to a position sufficiently removedfrom said cutout portion to permit conformation of the side panelextension to the lobed tabs of the top panel.